Which of these do you find yourself suffering from?

Characteristics

Poor Executive Functioning is prevalent in a large proportion of many school going children and some adults who have never been previously diagnosed with it. Though there are many other conditions that fall under the umbrella of executive functioning, they all share these characteristics in common.

Executive Functioning Disorders are Characterized by the following symptoms:

Difficulty setting goals

Those who have difficulties with Executive Functioning processes often have enormous difficulties setting goals. Often not having the end in mind, they have trouble progressing towards it.

Difficulty taking initiative

People with poor Executive Functioning often don't want to take the lead in projects, and if they do, have trouble organizing and pulling them together. They often need development in leadership skills.

Motivated by the present

Those lacking in Executive Functioning skills often don't think forward and live very much in the present. For them, living in the present is very much living in their own worlds. They don't reflect on consequences, mistakes of past experience or plan for the future.

Difficulty adapting to change

People with poor executive functions find it very hard to accept change. They are either too impulsive or rigid, veering between both extreme emotions. They also employ the same strategy to solve problems, even if that has been proven ineffective, and have trouble pausing to reflect on the right one to use.

Poor sense of individuality

Being present minded, such individuals find it hard to explain what they stand for or what they believe in. They are comforted by the results of the moment.

Poor emotional management

Sufferers of poor Executive Functioning have extreme difficulty managing their emotions. Their moods fluctuate and they may act out feelings without being able to identify them. They tend to assign blame to external factors or others without any sense of personal responsibility.

Difficulty empathizing

People with poor executive functions have difficulty empathizing, developing helicopter views or seeing things from different perspectives.

Source

Warning signs of having poor executive functions are....

having difficulty planning projects

having difficulty initiating tasks

having difficulty retaining information

Warning signs of poor executive functions

Signs of poor executive functions may not be obvious on the outset. They manifest themselves in children, but may remain until they reach adulthood. it's easy to confuse these signs with symptoms of stress or sheer rebellious tantrums. However, these are signals of poor executive functioning if they show themselves repeatedly.

Difficulty planning projects

A chld or adult who has repeated failure planning projects has poor organizational abilities, a sign of weak executive functioning.He also has immense difficulty estimating how long a project takes to complete.

Such an adult will also have difficulty telling stories. Telling stories requires sequential skills, which a person lacks if he has poor executive functions. Putting a story together requires memorization of facts, which a person whose executive functions aren't strong will find very hard to do.

Difficulty initiating tasks

if a child or adult procrastinates and finds it hard to start a task , it is a sign that he has weak executive functions. Dalliance reflects lack of ability to manage time.

Difficulty retaining information

With weak executive functions, a person would find it hard to retain information, particularly while he is doing something. For instance, he could forget that he has his keys even while opening the door.

Understanding Executive Functioning

Causes

Executive Functioning can be inherited. People can be born with poor executive functions. Those who have had surgery performed on the brain's prefrontal cortex or damage to it may experience this disorder.

Those who have Alzhimer's Disease, or strokes may have poor executive functions.

Types

Executive Function is the broad term that includes psychological disorders like depression, Attention Hyperactivity Deficit Disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities may have difficulties with organization, prioritizing or managing their emotions.

You cope better with weak executive functions if you...

Break tasks down

Use visual aids and other tools

Ask for written directions

Take short breaks

Organize your space

Coping

As a person whose executive functions have been a little disrupted because of brain tumor removal, I empathize with those who have the same, potentially debilitating condition. It can be frustrating to be completely normal in intelligence yet constantly lose something as important as your keys.

If you suspect poor Executive Functioning, take heart, because it does not have to hamper progress. Coping strategies, though, are much needed.

Break tasks down

Daunting tasks can be broken into smaller, manageable ones and the pieces put together in a completed project. Seek help from colleagues, friends or loved ones who can assist if it's hard to know where to begin with the task.

Use visual aids and other tools

If having many tasks to complete overwhelms, use visual aids. Visual representation helps greatly in organizing information into categories and memorizing tasks.

Tools like organizers, computers, or watches with alarms can help greatly in organizing, storing important information or tracking time.these should be constantly reviewed.

Ask for written directions

Ask for written directions with oral instructions whenever possible.

Take short breaks

Plan and structure transition times and shifts in activities to put less stress on organization or memory.

To improve time management:

Organize your space

To better manage space and keep things from getting lost, minimize clutter. Consider having complete sets of supplies for different activities and always leave them in specific places. Schedule a weekly time to clean and organize the work space.

Conclusion

Poor Executive Functioning may inconvenience, but does not have to debilitate.

Comments

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sending

AUTHOR

Michelle Liew

4 years agofrom Singapore

Welcome Alexadry!

Adrienne Janet Farricelli

4 years agofrom USA

This is very new to me, never heard this term before. Thanks for posting this as I learned something new!

AUTHOR

Michelle Liew

4 years agofrom Singapore

Thanks, Jen!

AUTHOR

Michelle Liew

4 years agofrom Singapore

Thanks so much.....it'll be so useful for them!

AUTHOR

Michelle Liew

4 years agofrom Singapore

Take a break, Joelle...we all need it!! Thanks of coming by!

AUTHOR

Michelle Liew

4 years agofrom Singapore

Thanks, Janet!

AUTHOR

Michelle Liew

4 years agofrom Singapore

Thanks, DDE!

AUTHOR

Michelle Liew

4 years agofrom Singapore

LOL...we all know someone who has these problems, indeed!

Tammy

4 years agofrom USA

Very interesting. I had never heard of this. As I was reading it I had a few people I know come to mind. I will be sure to share it with them. Thanks for posting this.

AUTHOR

Michelle Liew

4 years agofrom Singapore

Thanks, Eddy!

AUTHOR

Michelle Liew

4 years agofrom Singapore

Thanks, Sasha!

Jen Kehl - My Skewed View

4 years ago

Brilliant. Forwarding to my Executive Function Impaired husband!

kidscrafts

4 years agofrom Ottawa, Canada

When I read your title "executive functioning", Michelle, I had also a boardroom full of executives... obviously it's not!

I never heard of that condition. But I can see in my mind some of the students I had that could fit in that category!

Thank you for talking about this important subject! It's something important to keep in mind as a teacher! It shows also that we have to be careful to evaluate each child and try to educate them in a way that suits each individual needs.

Voted up, useful and interesting!

I am sorry that I will miss some great hubs of yours in the coming months because I have to take a little break because I am swamp with work :-(

Take care of yourself! Enjoy your weekend!

PS : I love your picture of the cat :-)))

AUTHOR

Michelle Liew

4 years agofrom Singapore

Thanks, Bill.

Janet Giessl

4 years agofrom Georgia country

I haven't heard of this before so this was educational for me. Thank you for this informative and useful hub.

Connie Smith

4 years agofrom Southern Tier New York State

This was written for my husband! He needs to read this and see that he can manage things if he uses the techniques you describe. Awesome, thank you ;) Pearl

Bill Holland

4 years agofrom Olympia, WA

I had never heard the term before. I couldn't vote in the poll because I don't have a problem with any of those examples. :)

Devika Primić

4 years agofrom Dubrovnik, Croatia

Brilliant and an effective way to notice such understanding of the Executive Functioning which can be inherited. An informative and helpful hub.

Eiddwen

4 years agofrom Wales

A brilliant hub once again Michelle.

Voted up m, shared and wishing you a great day.

Eddy.

Shasta Matova

4 years agofrom USA

I really like that you provided suggestions for coping with executive functioning disorders. Very interesting - I hadn't heard of that term.

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